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Please spread the word about this.
As RaceFail 09 continues, it has become clear that there are those who are hellbent on marginalizing and silencing people of color. In the past few months, minorities have been denigrated by bigoted authors and publishers who have also asserted that Fen of Color are rare and practically non-existent. Despite numerous discussions and attempts to enlighten on the fact that POCs are fans, writers, artists and just as integral to this genre as our white counterparts, we are continuously dismissed.
On Monday May 18, 2009, we are asking anyone who identifies as a POC/non-white to post this banner, their speculative short stories, artwork, poetry or simply write a post on their favorite fandom on their blogs as an act of protest to show we will not be silent or invisible. The day of protest is entitled Fen Of Color United or more aptly, FOC_U.
White allies can also show solidarity for this event by posting this banner and expressing the need for diversity and speaking out against the bigotry in the genre, through posts and/or their creative work as well.
In addition, a new community entitled FOC_U has been created. It's designed to be a safespace for POCs/non-whites and white allies to discuss the issues pertaining to RaceFail and a place to counteract its destructive effects. And it's also a fun place for everyone to also discuss their favorite fandoms. While memberships and posts are under moderation for the time being (until the community gets more established and input is welcomed), everyone is encouraged to join and make this a home.
You can help out by spreading the word and reposting this banner on your personal blog or creating one of your own if you'd like.
The gauntlet's been thrown and I for one think it's past time for us to take a stand and let our voices be heard, whether some people want to hear them or not.
If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to stop by FOC_U. If you want repostable code for this, doctoreon has it available here.
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I've done a lot of speaking about bigotry in the genre recently and will let what I've said stand for itself. There's lots of good writing going up today at foc_u, which I encourage you to visit and check out. (In the interests of clarity, I'm also aware of the problematic past statements from neo_prodigy...and while I have Thoughts on all of that, including a few hundred words on "why locking problematic things you've said once people become aware of them on a wider scale is not the best idea", I am still supporting the foc_u effort. Others may choose, and have chosen, differently, which is OK, too.)
In the meantime, as my contribution, a few links for you to writers of color the Pope recommends whose work you can find right here on LJ and the wider webs. (Some of these recs you may have seen previously, for which I apologize.)
tithenai (Amal el-Mohtar) co-wrote, as you might recall, what might be my favorite poem in the world, which poem has received a Rhysling nomination. She has a recent post on what you do when you realize RaceFail has crept into your work in progress. She is also co-editor of Goblin Fruit, a quarterly magazine collecting works "of the fantastical". She received a second Rhysling nomination this year for her poem Songs for an Ancient City.
nojojojo (N.K. Jemesin) is a science fiction author. Her book, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, is expected in February 2010, now available for pre-order (through the hated Amazon.com, but still) and is the first of a trilogy. If you, like me, are attending Wiscon, here's her schedule if you'd like to catch her panels. She recently did a post that collected some of her own descriptions of characters of color in her writing, which may be a useful read for others seeking to improve in this area. You can see some of her work online at Transcriptase, where her stories The Brides of Heaven and The Narcomancer are hosted.
shweta_narayan (Shweta Narayan) is a poet, author and artist. Her illustrations for scriitor's story A Clockwork Jungle will be part of Shimmer's upcoming special issue. Her work in Shimmer has received previous Pope-praise here. Check out her poetry tag for more, and don't miss He says, whatever you do...or check out an interview with the lady herself.
yhlee (Yoon Ha Lee) is a writer of short fiction I can't say enough good things about. Everything of hers I've encountered has made me happy. The Shadow Postulates gave me the screaming mimis in the best possible way...math nerds who also like sci-fi that makes you worry a little bit, take heed, you've found your fix. I've also scouted out a couple of free audio recordings of her stories Eating Hearts and Blue Ink. Blue Ink was a Million Writers Award Notable Story in 2008 and, while not selected as a finalist, got singled out for special praise by Jason Sanford. For your immediate pleasure, however, have her poem Kingdom of Dust and Steel, which appeared in Abyss & Apex back in 2005.
Ms. Lee, like several other friend-of-the-Pope authors, has a story in the brand-new Federations anthology. While I'm not totally thrilled (read: not at all thrilled and more than a little irritated) that this anthology contains both Bujold and Orson Scott Card, neither of whom I have any particular interest in lending my financial support, it also features tales from yhlee, ktempest and yuki_onna, so I'm recommending it for your reading pleasure on the strength of those three formidable ladies alone.
Unless you're really new around here, you already know how highly I esteem ktempest (K. Tempest Bradford) and my crazy-mad love for her story Until Forgiveness Comes. She has her own protest post up today, so I'll let you follow her link for more short fiction. Again, Wiscon people? Check her schedule and show your support.
Did you ever do like I told you and go read Clapping for the Fairies, Daily Cabal founder Sara Genge's choose-your-own-adventure? If not, why the hell not? (Ms. Genge is not on LJ and blogs at Daily Cabal, where also-friend-of-the-blog jlundberg is known to romp.
I am not going to lie and pretend I had ever heard of Nalo Hopkinson before charlesatan Twitted a link to her post, Looking for Clues, this morning, because I had not. But now that I have, I think I'll be checking her out, because it was awesome. Adapted from a speech she gave at a previous Wiscon where she was Guest of Honor, this is probably one of the most thought-provoking things I've read on the subject of representation, fiction and identity in a long time.
In checking on who else on my flist who's quiet over this way is attending Wiscon, I found izzybelbooks' transcribed list of books by POC from last year's POC book recommendations panel, if any of y'all are looking for more goodness to add to your to-read list.
Who else that you know is fabulous, chromatic, and committing acts of sf/f, poetry and fiction on LiveJournal and/or DreamWidth? Share your recommendations in the comments; y'all know how I love "more things to read". Also...who's coming to Wiscon? Shout out and share your plans.